Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont & New York

"Today, small populations of timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) quietly inhabit parts of Rutland County in Vermont,and Warren,Washington, and Essex counties in NewYork. Becausethe species is endangered, the exact locations of established dens in these counties are a closely guarded secret. Insider, naturalist, and author Jon Furman has devoted years to the study of the snake's past and present range, its habitat and biology, the period in Vermont and upstate NewYork history during which timber rattlesnakes were ruthlessly hunted for a bounty, and the outlook for this severely threatened species in both states." "Soundly anchored in the latest scientific data, Furman's book offers an accessible and engaging account of contemporary fieldwork and first-person interviews with herpetologists and old-time bounty hunters. For expert and lay readers interested in snakes and reptiles, northeastern fauna and natural history, conservation, and endangered species, this volume clearly explains the timber rattlesnake's biology as well as what happens and what to do when one bites. It also explores the troubling decline of the northeastern population caused by bounty hunting between the 1890s and the early 1970s, other threats (past and present) to the species' survival, and measures that are being taken - as well as additional ones that must be taken - to ensure that timber rattlesnakes survive and thrive in the northeast. Historical and contemporary illustrations bring these reptiles and their world to life. Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont and New York shines a new light on a maligned and misunderstood species."--book jacket.